Broadcast News

DirectOut Delivers MADI To SoundGrid Converter

DirectOut Technologies, a German manufacturer specialising in networking, routing and conversion products, is now shipping its latest development SG.MADI, an audio format converter that links MADI signals with a Waves SoundGrid Audio-over-IP network.

SoundGrid is a mature, layer 2-based protocol aimed at large live sound, broadcast, post-production and studio environments. It offers uncompressed, multi-channel, low-latency audio and access to a host of processing within Waves SoundGrid DSP Server and SoundGrid compatible third-party plugins.

SG.MADI is a bidirectional interface for up to 128 audio channels and provides the answer for those using MADI at large-scale events wishing to connect to a SoundGrid system.

Housed in a space-saving 1U 19" enclosure SG.MADI's front panel incorporates LEDs that confirm the status of the unit and the status of all the MADI and SoundGrid ports. There is also a headphone jack for monitoring any of the 256 channels with volume control. The two GPIs on the rear panel are to integrate control signals via the network or MADI link and the two GPOs can be individually configured for triggering system events or activating on-air or recording lights etc.

SG.MADI has been built to be bullet proof in broadcast critical situations. It is equipped with dual redundant power supplies and both the MADI and network ports may be employed as dual redundant pairs with auto fail-over. SoundGrid includes drivers for Windows and Mac and utilising SG.MADI's integrated switch, two computers may be connected to it at the same time for redundant recording setups.